Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

- Written by Ryan Boser
- Edited by Marc Caviglia
- Predictions are based on Staff Consensus

::RANKINGS UPDATED AS OF JANUARY10, 2011::

This weekend marks the return to the gridiron for Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, but Drew Brees has only tightened his stranglehold on our No. 1 ranking. In addition to the “Big Three,” Eli Manning shapes up as a dark horse in the race to the top, and Tim Tebow has reminded us yet again that he can never be counted out.

Check out where the rest of the chips fall in our Divisional Round Quarterback Rankings, and best of luck to you, Bruno Boys Nation!

Standard Scoring

Pass TD: 4 points |  All Other TDs: 6 points
25 Passing Yards: 1 point |  All Turnovers: -2 points
10 Rushing Yards: 1 point |  10 Receiving Yards: 1 point

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We’ve partnered with DraftStreet.com to provide our fans an opportunity to play WEEKLY salary cap fantasy football against the Bruno Boys Staff.  Through the first 18 weeks of the NFL season we have given away over $7,200 in cash prizes. This week, we are offering a $350 free roll in which the TOP 20 win prize money. Make sure to sign-up now for a chance to win money and take on the Bruno Boys… IT’S FREE!!

Please use this link to enter:  Divisional Round $350 Contest  (click to register)

1. Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) at San Francisco

Last week we projected Drew Brees for a whopping 26 fantasy points, but even our most generous prediction was too light. Brees posted a fantasy 30-spot with 466 passing yards and three touchdowns against Detroit! It was the fourth game in a row that New Orleans eclipsed 40 points, and if they’re going to do it against San Francisco, it will have to be through the air. While the 49ers boast a historically good run defense, they’re merely average against the pass. In his past four games, Brees has averaged over four touchdown passes and 394 yards, so sit back and enjoy.
Point Projection: 25 points

2. Aaron Rodgers vs. New York Giants

The last time we saw Aaron Rodgers, two full weeks ago, he was dropping a season-high five touchdown passes on the Bears. The last time the Giants saw Rodgers, he was spinning their secondary in circles to the tune of 369 passing yards and four touchdowns back in Week 13. Although New York has shown marked improvement since then, Rodgers will undoubtedly make up for lost time in a game that has all the makings of a shootout. Greg Jennings’ return to the lineup is icing on the cake.
Point Projection: 24 points

3. Eli Manning (New York Giants) at Green Bay

Sure, Eli Manning’s Week 15 hiccup cost the collective fantasy community thousands of dollars, but it’s time to get over it. In the past two weeks, he’s returned to the top-five production we’d grown accustomed to, averaging 312 yards and chucking three touchdown passes against both Dallas and Atlanta. Green Bay’s No. 31 pass defense gave up 520 yards and five touchdowns to Matt Stafford the last time they took the field, and Manning lit them up for 347 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in Week 13. The Packers can score at will against anybody, and their putrid pass defense all but ensures that Manning will rack up Rodgers-like production in his attempt to keep pace on the scoreboard.
Point Projection: 23 points

4. Tom Brady (New England Patriots) vs. Denver

With Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers stealing all the headlines, Tom Brady has somehow slipped under the radar. He’s cracked 300 passing yards and accounted for exactly three touchdowns in each of his last four games. One of said performances came against these same Broncos in Week 15, when he threw for 320 yards and totaled three scores (two passing, one rushing). Denver’s allowed just one total touchdown pass in three games since then, so while Brady probably lacks the unlimited ceiling of Brees and Rodgers this week, he’s still a safe bet to push 300 yards and multiple touchdowns. 
Point Projection: 21 points

**BEAT THE BRUNO BOYS $350 DIVISIONAL ROUND FREE CONTEST -  TOP 20 PAID**

We’ve partnered with DraftStreet.com to provide our fans an opportunity to play WEEKLY salary cap fantasy football against the Bruno Boys Staff.  Through the first 18 weeks of the NFL season we have given away over $7,200 in cash prizes. This week, we are offering a $350 free roll in which the TOP 20 win prize money. Make sure to sign-up now for a chance to win money and take on the Bruno Boys… IT’S FREE!!

Please use this link to enter:  Divisional Round $350 Contest  (click to register)

5. Tim Tebow (Denver Broncos) at New England

Just when we’d stuck a fork in Tim Tebow, he exploded against the vaunted Steeler defense for his best fantasy outing to date. Tebow completed 10-of-21 passes for 316 yards and two scores, while adding 50 yards and another touchdown on the ground. He hasn’t cracked 13 completions, or even 50 percent of his passes in over a month, but both dubious marks could crumble this week against New England’s league-worst secondary. When these teams met in Week 15, Tebow completed 11-of-22 passes for 194 yards, and rolled up 93 yards and a pair of scores on the ground. One way or another, he should get his numbers again this week. 
Point Projection: 19 points

6. Alex Smith (San Francisco) vs. New Orleans

Alex Smith’s typical game managing simply won’t suffice this week against a Saints offense that’s scored exactly 45 points in each of their last three games. He’ll be forced to throw, which is something he’s done quite accurately when given the chance. Smith hasn’t been intercepted in five straight games, and while he’s usually just a 200-yard guy, he should be able to pick his way through the soft coverage of New Orleans’ bottom-ten fantasy pass defense and stretch his upside this week. 
Point Projection: 15 points

7. Joe Flacco (Baltimore) vs. Houston

In his past six games, Joe Flacco’s high water mark is 227 passing yards. He’s totaled eight touchdowns and four interceptions in those six games, so we’re talking about a low-level fantasy QB2 in a normal week. He’ll be hard-pressed to improve on those disappointing numbers against Houston’s top-five fantasy pass defense. The Texans’ swarming defense just bullied Andy Dalton, who posted a virtually identical statistical season Flacco, to 257 yards and three interceptions. Set your expectations low.
Point Projection: 12 points

8. T.J. Yates (Houston Texans) at Baltimore

Caretaker T.J. Yates completed 11-of-20 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown in Houston’s inaugural playoff game. It was enough to beat the Bengals, and the Texans have no choice but to stick to the Arian Foster-centric blueprint for the remainder of their playoff run. Baltimore’s No. 2 fantasy pass defense held Matt Schaub to 220 passing yards and one touchdown back in Week 6, so anything more than that from Yates should be considered a miracle.
Point Projection: 9 points

WILD CARD ROUND RANKINGS:  QB  |  RB  |  WR  |  TE  |  K  |  DEF  (click to view)